The last eight seasons, the NBA crowned eight different champions. As if it were an equitable distribution of glory, everything seems destined for Victor Wembanyama and his Spurs (their last ring was in 2014) in the current season that starts today (Amazon Prime and DAZN). Not only due to succession; mainly because the dimension of the French giant seems irresistible.
Only the collective power of the Knicks could stop San Antonio four months ago, in historic Finals as 53 years later in the Big Apple, a ring was celebrated. It was a tough lesson for the Texans, defeated in five games after dominating the Knicks for 72% of the Finals time. Comeback after comeback. "There comes a point where you accept that you have to go through it and feel everything. We don't want to hide anything. And we are full of hope, very ambitious," acknowledged the trauma of Wembanyama, who had the whole summer to correct those youthful mistakes.
It was the first playoffs for Wemby, at 22, in his third season in the NBA. It wasn't just his performances; the feeling is that everything around him is also ideally positioned for success. That's what half of the League's General Managers think, who also believe, by majority (77%), that the Frenchman will be the MVP (he finished third last season) and will renew (97%) his award as the best defender: only three players have achieved this double feat (Michael Jordan with the Bulls in 1988, Hakeem Olajuwon with the Rockets in 1994, and Giannis Antetokounmpo with the Bucks in 2020).
It's not just Wembanyama's maturity, a guy capable of openly discussing the serious crisis his country is going through - "I am happy that high school students and young people in general are making themselves heard. Because I listen to them and support them, and I hope that the people up there do the same," sparking political controversy - it's also the fullness of everything around him. The Spurs have managed to maintain a powerful collective with young players Stephon Castle (21 years), Dylan Harper (20), Devin Vassell (26), Julian Champagnie (25), and a more experienced core with Keldon Johnson, De'Aron Fox, Luke Kornet, and Harrison Barnes, and have added a veteran like Tobias Harris. The second favorite, the Thunder, champions in 2024, have indeed seen their salary limits lead to the departure of some of their key players.
Everything in Oklahoma depends even more on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, whose tremendous contract, combined with Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren, forced Sam Presti to trade three key pieces this summer: Luguentz Dort, Aaron Wiggins, and Isaiah Joe. Their big news, another giant, and Spanish: Aday Mara from the NCAA title with Michigan and the 12th pick in the last draft.
If the Spurs and Thunder seem to leave no room for another favorite in the West (not even the Lakers with Doncic, the Nuggets with Jokic, or the Warriors with Stephen Curry, the highest-paid player in the league with 62.6 million dollars), on the opposite coast, it's time for radical changes. The Knicks face renewed opponents, starting with the Sixers. There, as the latest chapter of his impressive career, LeBron James has arrived, including a drastic pay cut (from 54 million to 4 million dollars) at 41 years old. He will travel in his helicopter to train and play from his residence in New York. In the City of Brotherly Love, he will join, in another one of those super teams that occasionally emerge in the NBA (and almost never succeed), Tyrese Maxey, the injury-prone Joel Embiid (96 out of 246 possible games in the last three years), and the rising star VJ Edgecombe. Also, Jaylen Brown, from the Celtics. An astonishing quintet: "The most important thing is that no one on this team has an ego."
Also noteworthy was Giannis Antetokounmpo's departure after 13 seasons with the Bucks. He heads to Miami, although what the Heat had to give up for the Greek (Tyler Herro, Kasparas Jakucionis, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Norman Powell, Kel'el Ware...) seems too much to consider them favorites. We'll see if the umpteenth sleight of hand by Pat Riley, at 81 years old, has an effect.
An NBA where Spanish players emerge again. After several years with reduced presence, a hopeful quintet of Spaniards is emerging in the best league in the world. Santi Aldama - traded to the Mavericks and about to recover from his summer surgery - and Hugo González (entering his second season with the Celtics) are joined by Aday Mara (Thunder), Sergio de Larrea (Mavericks), and Baba Miller (Clippers) from the draft. Additionally, the twins Díaz-Graham (Guillermo and Jorge) have appeared in the Mavericks' preseason.